The Guyana Police Force (GPF) maintained a firm grip on the field events to extend their lead to 33 points on day two of the 2012 edition of the Inter Services Annual Athletics Championships (ISAAC) at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground Camp Ayangana yesterday.
After the conclusion of 16 finals, GPF are in the pole position with 267 points while the GDF team follows in second place with 234 points. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) were steadfast in third place with 53 points while the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) remained in the cellar with 27 points. GDF had been trailing by a larger margin (46 points) in last year’s competition but relinquished the lead on the final day and won the 2011 ISAAC title by one point.
GPF sweeps shot putt
Former ISAAC shot putt champion Ronald Payne was stunned and settled for second place but this did not worry the GPF team as Payne’s teammate Julio Sinclair took the shot putt gold. In his opening throw, Sinclair hit the 14m mark on the nose and that was enough to win the competition. Sinclair’s mammoth throw in the first round was more
than a metre ahead of the best effort of his challengers. Even Payne’s second place throw was 12.89m. Michael Pollydore found his rhythm in the second round and threw his way into the medals for a GPF sweep in the men’s shot put competition.
Reigning overall champion female athlete Natasha Alder of GPF made up in technique what she lacked in size, winning the women’s shot putt with a best throw of 10.19m. Alder’s teammate Joan Browne copped the silver medal after throwing 9.75m, but GDF’s Ann Doris spoiled the Police women’s shot put sweep after throwing 9.68 for third. The GPF team also won the male and female triple jump competitions after sharing the long jump results with GDF on day one. Alita Moore jumped 11.73 to win the women’s triple jump while Troy Williams jumped 13.9 to secured gold in the men’s triple jump. Williams, who placed second in the men’s long jump, narrowly beat second and third place finishers Ryan Scott (12.56m) of the GFS and Desmond Nicholson (12.29m) of GPF respectively. Tracy Moses (10.93m) also of GPF was second to Moore in the women’s triple jump while GDF’s Shinella Adams (10.43m) placed third.
The men’s and women’s javelin will be held tomorrow and the defending champions in that event are Natasha Alder and Leslain Baird. Today athletes will rest up in preparation’s for tomorrow’s grand finale.
